Software Install Automation

1. A process for the installation of software on a host device, the software comprising host device executable code, the method being performed by a peripheral device and comprising the steps of: upon initial connection of said peripheral device to a host device, transmitting information from the peripheral device to the host device identifying the peripheral device as a Human Interaction Device (HID), subsequent to the identification of said peripheral device as a HID, transmitting from the peripheral device a key press sequence to the host device, said key press sequence corresponding to a command to cause the host device to perform steps for the installation of said software on the host device, wherein said software enables communication between the host device and the peripheral device with respect to a function of the peripheral device as other than a HID, and subsequent to the installation of said software on the host device, transmitting information to the host device identifying the peripheral device according to the peripheral device's real function, such that thereafter the peripheral device is able to communicate with the host device according to its real function other than a HID.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the steps for installation comprise automatically opening a web-address specified in the key press sequence.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the software includes a specific driver for the peripheral device when the peripheral device is identified as a HID.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is connected to the host device using the USB protocol.

5. A process according to claim 4 , wherein the identification information comprises a Vendor ID and a Device ID.

6. A process according to claim 5 , wherein the peripheral device transmits a different Device ID and/or Vendor ID when identified as a HID and according to the peripheral device's real function.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device logically disconnects from the host device before identifying itself according to the peripheral device's real function.

8. A process for the installation of software on a host device, the software comprising host device executable code that enables the host device to communicate with a peripheral device, the method being performed by the host device and comprising the steps of: detecting an initial connection of the peripheral device to the host device, receiving information from the peripheral device indicating that the peripheral device is a Human Interaction Device (HID) and configuring the host device to receive key press information from the peripheral device as an HID, receiving a key press sequence from the peripheral device as a HID and placing that key press sequence in a keyboard buffer for processing, the key press sequence causing the host device to perform steps for the installation of driver software on the host device to enable communication between the host device and the peripheral device with respect to a function of the peripheral device as other than a HID, installing the software, subsequent to installation of the software, receiving information from the peripheral device identifying the peripheral device according to the peripheral device's real function, and registering the software on the host device to allow communication with the peripheral device operating according to the peripheral device's real function other than a HID.

9. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the host device opens a web-page, archive file or installer specified in the key press sequence, in response to the key press sequence.

10. A process according to claim 8 wherein the software is also for use when the peripheral device is identified as a Human Interaction device.

11. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the peripheral device is connected to the host device by the USB protocol.

12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the identification information comprises a Vendor ID and a Device ID.

13. A process according to claim 11 wherein the host device receives a different Device ID and/or Vendor ID when the peripheral device is identified as a HID and as the peripheral device's real function.

14. A process according to claim 11 further comprising the step of transmitting a detach command after installing the driver software.

15. A process according to claim 8 wherein the key press sequence causes the host to obtain and install the software.

16. A process according to claim 1 wherein the peripheral device comprises a processor, configured to cause the peripheral device to perform the steps of the method.

17. A peripheral device for connection to a host device, comprising: an interface for connection to a host device, wherein the peripheral device is configured to operate in a first and a second mode, in the first mode the peripheral device identifies itself to a host device to which the peripheral device is connected as a Human Interface Device (HID) and transmits key press information to the host device via the interface to facilitate the installation of software on the host device, where the software enables communication between the host device and the peripheral device with respect to a function of the peripheral device other than a HID, and in the second mode the peripheral device identifies itself to a host device to which the peripheral device is connected as a device providing the real functions of the peripheral other than a HID, and the peripheral device is configured so that on initial connection of the interface to a host device the peripheral device operates in the first mode and so that the peripheral device subsequently operates in the second mode.

18. A peripheral device according to claim 17 , further comprising a processor to control the mode of the device.

19. A peripheral device according to claim 18 , wherein the device is assigned a first device class, Vendor Identity and Product Identity corresponding to the first mode and identifying the device as a Human Interaction Device and a second device class, Vendor Identity and Product Identity corresponding to the second mode and identifying the device according to the peripheral device's real function.

20. A peripheral device according to claim 17 configured to transmit an identity corresponding to the first mode on connection to a host device.

21. A peripheral device according to claim 17 configured to change from the first mode to the second mode in response to a signal from a host device to which the peripheral device is connected.